1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Towering started around late 2013 when Christnacht and I joined forces after hearing some Old School Death Metal early recordings I made. We then were joined by Wargod on the drums in 2014, and immediately began rehearsing and writing new material. In 2015 bassist Necrovorator joined us to complete our first official line-up, allowing us to play our first show and eventually to record and release our first demo "Towards Fate" in 2016. Mortem replaced Wargod on the drums in early 2017, marking the beginning towards a darker and more complex music.
2.You have your first full length coming out during that end of May, musically how does it differ from your previous demo and promo?
Starting as an Old School Death Metal band, Towering has a very rich variety of influences amongst its members. This led us to develop darker and heavier ambiances as well as more refined structures. We also took time to work on our sound and what we wanted to create on 'Obscuring Manifestation', and we are really proud of it!
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored so far with your music?
Death has always held a central part in Towering, as it guides every living being throughout its existence. Being a certainty, it also raises interrogations, fear, belief or rejection. Some can experience it in different ways, finding answers in cults and rites, others by resolutely awaiting the great void. It is something we can feel over our lives, a burden we carry through the ages, dominating us. Our lyrics focus on these aspects, and much more, but I'll let the listeners finding out by themselves!
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Towering'?
It is in direct relation with our lyrics and the atmosphere we try to establish, both musically and visually. Something greater, darker; an undefined presence lingering over our lives, silently awaiting for our end, affecting us from birth to death. A monument symbolizing the emptiness of our hollow lives as a whole, erected as the testimony of what led us to our extinction.
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
We wanted 'Obscuring Manifestation' to be a whole entity, from tracks to lyrics and visuals. SeelsOvBlackening managed to gather every aspect as one unified representation. It brings back to our name but also the lyrics I mentioned above, becoming the dominating presence watching us silently through the ages as a monument to our failure.
6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Every show was unique in its own way, being from its energy or for what it symbolized at that time. We can't forget our first show with Mortem, opening for Phrenelith and Funebrarum in 2017. But one of the most intense and fulfilling live experience was our early-April mini tour with Belgian label-friends of Storm Upon the Masses in Lille and Ghent. It was both our first show out of France and one of our most attended and intense show.
Which is, to answer your latter question, the word that we hear the most often after our show to describe us: 'intense'. We put everything we have in ourselves on the stage, never slowing down.
7.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?
At the moment, several opportunities are showing up, but it is still in discussion, but we sure are looking forward to play abroad!
8.Te new album is coming out on 'Dolerem Records', how did you get in contact with this label?
It was quite unexpected, as its owner contacted us for an old-school Death Metal release since the only material we had at that time was our demo. We replied by indicating our music had evolved and sent him some home recordings, saying we perhaps weren't what he was looking for. But Alex really liked it and was eager to sign us up with our current material. Our collaboration was excellent, and we're really happy to be part of Dolorem to say the least!
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black and death metal?
So far "Obscuring Manifestation" has been really well-received, getting awesome reviews and great feedback, in France of course but as well as in the rest of Europe and North America.
10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Currently Towering is heading towards an ever more refined and heavier music, with more complex structures and variations, closer to tracks such as "Monuments to Our End" and "One With the Black Earth".
11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Our influences and daily listenings regroup a large variety of bands such as Azarath, Misþyrming, Vader, Amenra, Dissection, Bolt Thrower, Ulcerate, Emperor...
12.Does Occultism play any role in your music?
It does, mainly in our lyrics, as it is a perpetual search for answers using unconventional means.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Huge thanks for giving us the opportunity to make this interview possible, and to everyone who read it!
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